Villena Promotes Itself as an AVE City

Villena will be present this Thursday at the I Tourism Forum Spain by Train, which will be held in the city of Puertollano (Ciudad Real), alongside other Spanish municipalities connected to the high-speed train network. The event, taking place at the Cristina Rodero Museum, will gather over a hundred professionals from the sector, including institutional representatives, tourism companies, and railway operators.

The Councillor for Tourism of Villena, Paula García, highlighted the importance of attending this first edition, which aims to outline the roadmap for the joint promotion of AVE destinations. "Villena is very interested in actively participating in the design of these strategies, both to defend common interests and to assert the unique characteristics of our city," she stated.

According to García, the new context of railway competition and ticket price variety opens a window of opportunity for Villena to position itself as an attractive destination for cultural getaways, wine tourism experiences, or nature escapes. "It is essential that cities like ours, which are neither large cities nor provincial capitals, play an active role in this network," she affirmed.

The forum will address the role of the train as a driver of sustainable tourism, as well as other key issues for the sector, such as the coexistence between residents and visitors, the impact of tourist apartments, or the involvement of public institutions in promoting destinations. The day will include round tables and presentations on how to improve the traveler's experience and foster collaboration between railway operators, local businesses, and administrations.

Among the participants are representatives from Turespaña, spokespersons from Renfe, Iryo, and Ouigo —the three companies currently operating in the country—, as well as leaders of hotel, hospitality, and travel agency associations. Mayors and councillors from the 35 municipalities currently part of the Spain by Train network will also attend.

Spain by Train, formerly known as the AVE Cities Network, was established 21 years ago as an alliance between municipalities connected by high-speed rail. Its goal is to promote the tourism and economic development of these destinations, advocating for a more balanced, inclusive, and sustainable tourism model.